It’s no secret that Cadillac is now pursuing the strategy of straddling two segments with one vehicle. In the case of the new XT4, the CUV will fit in both the subcompact and compact luxury crossover segments, by having the price of the former and the size and feature set of the latter. In many ways, the Cadillac XT4 will compete for sales with the Audi Q3 family of crossover, and it would appear that Audi will have the upper hand, as the next-gen 2019 Q3 will be offered in not one, but two sporty variants.
Besides the regular Q3 that, in the United States, will be powered by a 2.0L Turbo engine making around 240 horses, thereby being the more direct rival to the Cadillac XT4, Audi will also field an SQ3 with a high-output 2.0L turbo four-cylinder engine expected to make around 290 horsepower, as well as an even mightier RS Q3 with a 2.5L turbo five-cylinder engine pumping out an impressive 362 horsepower.
In comparison, the 2019 XT4 will only offer a single engine choice (that we know of at the moment): the all-new turbocharged “Tripower” 2.0-liter LSY four-cylinder engine rated at 235 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque.
In addition to more powerful engines, both the SQ3 and RS Q3 are sure to offer a more exciting driving experience via a sprightlier suspension system. In fact, Audi has been spied testing the Q3’s upcoming sporty variants at the Nürburgring. Currently, the only competition that can measure up to the RS Q3 is the Mercedes-AMG GLA45, which begs the question: will Cadillac offer a performance-oriented variant of the XT4?
To date, we haven’t seen anything that even remotely hints at an XT4 V-Sport or XT4-V; no spy shots of prototypes and not even a whisper of a rumor. So outside of the very remote possibility that Cadillac is planning on offering a sportier XT4 and is doing a very good job of keeping it under wraps, it would seem that a hotter Cadillac XT4 is not in the cards.
To us, however, it would make total sense for Cadillac to fill out the XT4 lineup as follows:
- XT4 “regular” with the 2.0L Turbo I4 LSY producing its 238 horses
- XT4 V-Sport with a high-output version of the LSY making around 300 horsepower to take on the SQ3 (it’s rumored that Mercedes-Benz will enter this middle performance space with the next-gen Mercedes GLA-Class)
- XT4-V with the twin-turbo 3.0L V6 LGW making over 350 horsepower to take on the RS Q3 (and the Mercedes-AMG GLA45)
Tell us what you think about the hypothetical Cadillac XT4 V-Sport and XT4-V in the comments.
More information about the 2019 Cadillac XT4 is available at the following links:
- 2019 Cadillac XT4 Pictures
- 2019 Cadillac XT4 Order Guide
- 2019 Cadillac XT4 Platform
- 2019 Cadillac XT4 Powertrain
- 2019 Cadillac XT4 Specifications
Comments
Where is Cadillac XT4-V? Sitting on a platform which underpins the Malibu, rather than one that could reasonably accommodate a luxury performance SUV and is befitting of the luxury segment Cadillac wishes to play in. Aside from the obvious known performance models within the company portfolio, GM is mostly asleep when it comes to segment competitive high performance models. As of right now there are several “Where is it?” performance models lacking in the GM line-ups. Right along with the need for competitive and more refined interiors.
GM wastes 90% of their resources on 1% of the market.
Bad management.
The RSQ3 uses the MQB platform. The same platform that underpins the Golf. E2XX could probably support more power.
Cadillac needs to spend more time on taking care of Customer Wants instead of dreaming up all sorts of junk that only they care about.
You guys are not the Government, Wasting money is what they are all about.
XT5 or XT4 Vsport for under $50K would be nice but will never happen.
Build the XT4 V sport, keep the price down in the $60,000. range and it will sell like hell, forget the off road stuff and stick with a comfortable cruise car.
Dare Greatly Cadillac! Make the Escala Concept Car, Make an Escalade V-Series, Give us XT4 and XT5 V’s with High Horsepower and insane styling! Quit telling people to try your product if your only going to disappoint them with what you offer. We at Cadillac are Extremely behind the competitors like Mercedes-Benz and BMW in regards to product offerings.
OK: One XT4 model with an engine that has lower HP than Audi? If they expect to compete, Cadillac needs to build THREE flavors like Audi, with engine options that exceed the three offerings in the Audi. Period. Otherwise, why wouldn’t a buyer in this segment and bracket just BUY an AUDI ??
…and build it here in the United States please.
The 2.0L is a boat anchor. It can’t even match the output of what Volvo provided 2 years ago.
The XT4 is built in the United States…
I would guess that GM’s target market for the Cadillac XT4 is mid-performance and that makes sense. Ultra high performance is mostly eye-candy which doesn’t enhance the bottom line much.
The XT4 is not even mid-performance. It is entry-level performance.
Mid-performance would be around 300 horses, along the lines of the SQ3, which the XT4 doesn’t offer either.
The ultra high performance stuff actually enhances the bottom line significantly. It must be done (structured) the right way… but it is extremely profitable, which is why everyone from the Europeans to the Japanese are doing it. The margins are 15 percent fatter on those models and the benefit to the brand from a desirability and fan boy standpoint is huge. Yugo I tell ya.
BMW X3 30i i4 does 0 to 60 in 6.3 sec
X3 M40i i6 4.6 sec
Upcoming X3M rumored to have sub 4 sec time.
In comparison XT5 3.6 V6 does 6.6 seconds. Not even as fast the bottom line X3.
Sad.
XT5: 6001 lbs (gmfleet.com)
BMW X3 30I: 4156 lbs (AUTOWEEK)
Cadillac may be testing a hypothesis that there is a segment of buyers who don’t care about power. If the hypothesis holds true, think of all the money they’ll save…
In fairness, figuring out to to make a mainstream variant that sells is what will keep the lights on so they can work on performance variants in the future – which may require a different platform anyway.
Put a Corvette V8 in something capable of handling it. THAT’s what people want. To put it in perspective: the XT4 standard engine is only 55 more hp the the normally aspirated 4 in my 2012 Verano. If Astin-Martin can put a V12 in a reasonably sized vehicle, why can’t Cadillac/General Motors do the same thing? They can put a ridiculous 650+ hp V8 in a Camaro, but they keep flailing away trying to convince people to by I-4 equipped Cadillacs. Krikey! It’s broken at GM. Again.
This is not a RWD platform. The V8 is not necessary but there should be a high performance version of the XT4. Perhaps it will be available in the future.
When the XTS debut, it was available w/ the naturally aspirated V6 with the V-Sport that followed a year later. Same thing could happen with the XT4 also.
I prefer a full hybrid or EREV XT4 such as what the Cadillac CT6 plug-in hybrid has. I have no need for performance in a CUV, having driven two Camaros (one was a 1968 Z-28) and two Mustangs in the past. If I want to drive fast, I would buy a newer Camaro or Mustang!
You might buy the Camaro for your sports/performance car needs, and that would be logical. But the market clearly is looking for performance from crossovers, which Cadillac is not satisfying. Clearly, Audi will be, while benefiting from doing so financially.
Ran out of words for Cadillac, SAD
With peak torque at 1500 rpm and supposedly more refinement than the old one, the new 2.0 will probably be fine for 90% of potential buyers.
The XTS Vsport 3.6T engine is tanned, rested, and already transverse AWD mounted, but it’s the previous generation 3.6.
The new 2.7T for the trucks is probably not smooth enough for a luxury car. Too bad.
Hubris, bravado or call it whatever you want, fact is we know more and care more about Cadillac than General Motors does about what they need to do to succeed. I always wanted to own a Cadillac… A ’57 to be precise. I never will. That doesn’t mean I wouldn’t like to see them succeed. No one wants a four cyl Cadillac that costs $50+ thousand dollars.
I’ve owned a number of Cadillac’s over the years, the more recent ones have had the 3.6L V-6, because I find the horsepower is acceptable. I went to the XT-4 unveiling at my Cadillac Dealer which was a very nice affair. However I was very disappointed with the only engine offering in the XT-4. I just won’t buy a 4 cylinder turbo. I’m looking now at the XT-5 with a 311 hp V-6, but now BMW has announced the X3 M40i with a 365 hp twin turbo inline 6 engine, now this has my interest. I very much like Cadillac, but they need to provide what the market wants.
2018 Chevy Equinox 2.0T 0-60 6.67 Sec. Cadillac can’t even be a leader at GM. It is SAD.
Exactly!
2018 Chevy Equinox 2.0L T: 250hp/260 ft lb torque
2018 Cadillac XT4: 2.0L T: 235hp/258 ft lb torque
Audi: 2.0L T: 240/290 hp
LOL. Is this the modern day Cimarron?
You see for me this has nothing to do with track driving. Or the ability to sit and say ” you see I’m great and important”. For me, and my wife for that matter, its about mobility, agility, maneuverability. The ability to maneuver in traffic, not sit and figure out what gear to shift to so my engine has enough torque to keep up. This used to be achieved with a Cadillac for us. In my opinion if Cadillac is to offer all segments of GM vehicles, it should lead at least GM in ALL aspects. Lead in HP, Torque, options, comfort, reliability, and tech. And again I could care less about a warranty, I simply want GM or Cadillac to fix what they know to be the problems. Load 5 people and some stuff in this XT-4 and GO, MOVE, KEEP UP AT LEAST. Its simply not enough. GM should look at the wait to HP ratio and increase it for Cadillac.
Have you met GM?
Honestly, when it comes to the XT4 Vs Q3 there are more pressing matters than a HiPo XT4. Just take a look at the interior of each one. That should be priority numero uno.
Personally, I think the XT4 is better looking, but the Q3 have a superior interior in both design & quality.
I’m down for a HiPo XT4 to complete with the SQ3 & the new X2 M35i, but I’m not holding my breath. They had an opportunity to put the low hanging fruit & easy to pull off Escalade Sport into production & they didn’t take it, I doubt they’ll do an XT4 V.
“I think the XT4 is better looking, but the Q3 has a superior interior in both design…”
The Audi has a dash that’s both busy and bland, plus it looks cheap in pictures (I haven’t seen it in the plastic). Superior design?
The XT4 needs an interior choice without black. Perhaps if it becomes a sales success, we’ll get more color AND engine choices.
GM is notorious for debuting a new model or remodel the year before a new, better engine.
Re: >>The XT4 needs an interior choice without black.<<
No kidding! I spec'd one out on Cadillac's build it website and could not believe you could have any color "so long as it's black". Huh?? I think it was around $53k at that point and honestly though it might be theSport Package or some option package I picked that was limiting the interior colors. I would never select black leather in ANY vehicle. It's hot and shows every spec of dust. A nice neutral Titanium or Saddle color would be nice.
GM can produce right now an equivalent of de SQ3 with the engine of de Cadillac ats 2.0 with 272 hp and 295 lbs of torque,
and the engenering can up date the horspower at 300 hp with out difficulty (Great engine) Do it GM you can. A.Beaudry Quebec Canada.
Oh boy. Where to begin?
Some people in here are saying the chassis is wrong for a sporty CUV. Let’s take the vehicle being compared here, the RSQ3. The Q3/SQ3/RSQ3 use the MQB platform. Simply put, they are a Golf underneath. The MQB platform is very versatile, and underpins most, if not all FWD VW group cars. E2XX is also pretty versatile, and could probably support addition power, and handling dynamics.
Some people in here are also saying to drop a V8 in it for more power. It’s 2018, and the replacement for displacement is boost. The 2.5t 5cyl going into the RSQ3, makes 400 HP. With an aftermarket tune, they are making close to 500. So, a V8 isn’t the only answer. A decent sized engine + boost is a very viable answer.
GM can do anything they want, just as good as anyone. The problem is overcoming the bean counters, and providing a justifiable business case for a XT4-V or V-Sport.
I just looked at 3 Chinese reviews of the XT4. All three talked about the engine LAST (not saying I knew what they said). That’s always the first thing in every American car review I’ve seen on youtube.
What’s everybody complaining about—Cadillac is giving us stop/start technology in the XT4–what more do you want ?
Stop/Start is not for me, it should be: if you like it turn it on, if not turn it off, but that isn’t an option, freezing myself with the AC turned to MAX to disable stop/start is not my idea of luxury.
The disable is standard on all versions. It’s on page 6 of the order guide PDF
But it’s likely you’ll have to push the button every trip.
I never understood why they just don’t add some logic to it. Outside temperature gauges have this in all GM vehicles. The status of the vehicle is monitored and if you are stopped in traffic, the temp stops updating itself until you go above a set speed for a specified period of time. There are other parameters, but that is the gist of it.
The same could be done for “stop/start”. Stopped, stop-and-go, or moving along at less than “x” mph: disable until vehicle resumes cruise above xx mph for x distance or time. Even easier would be a simple timed-delay: don’t stop the engine until x time has passed sitting in traffic at “0′ mph.
Sometimes, I WISH I worked for GM (especially Cadillac). My family has owned over 3 Cadillacs and we have an XTS that we drive now. The New Cadillacs are all beautifully designed… however, there’s too much CONSERVATIVE approaches in the launching of these new models. I would max out each model with at least 3-4 engine choices. Put a PLATINUM or full V-Version in every single model (see Mercedes Benz AMG models) We also owned an S-class years ago and simply loved it. There were about 4-5 engine choices for each model in the lineup. THAT is how you launch a brand new model! The XT4 is a gorgeously styled mini Escalade. Max that baby out!!! Give it a full V-model (Vrooom!) Take the LEAD and stop playing catch-up to the BMW, AUDI & MERCEDES. Upgrade the materials & leathers as well on all models. Tweak the price point on each one. People do not mind paying a premium on a product that they REALLY want. Need more interior color choices as well. Platinum XT4 & XT4-V should definitely be in the works already.
I am ready to buy an xt4 V .